Fire Code Construction Permit Expiration Guidelines

PURPOSEThe purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for setting, tracking, extending and expiring Fire Code permits issued by the Fire Marshal. This will not affect non-construction-related permits such as tents, canopies, special events or fireworks displays as these permits expire on a set date.[REF: 2007 CFC Sec. 105.3.1 Expiration]

GUIDELINES

Permit Issuance:

Permits shall be valid for 180 calendar days. The Expiration Date shall be printed on the permit.

Your permit remains active as long as a valid inspection is conducted within 180 days of the permit issuance or last valid inspection.

It is the responsibility of the permittee to track permit expiration. Our office will not contact permittees whose permits are about to expire.

Contractors scheduling inspections solely for the purpose of keeping the permit active, who are not ready for inspection, shall be charged the standard reinspection fee for each occurrence.Such inspections will not extend the expiration date of the permit.

Partial system inspections will be pre-approved on a case-by-case basis only.

Permit Extension:Extensions may be requested to keep your permit active when you are not ready for a valid inspection within 180 days of permit issuance. Your request must be approved before your permit Expiration Date.

Extensions will be granted only for those permits that have NOT EXPIRED.

If your request is approved, your Permit will be reissued with a new expiration date and sent to the Permittee via their e-mail address or, if no e-mail is available, mailed to the address listed on your permit application form."

No fees will be charged for an extension.

Permit Reactivation:Our Reactivation process is requested by the Permittee or property owner to continue a project after the permit has expired. A project does not qualify for reactivation if any changes have been made to the project. In this case, the project shall be resubmitted with full current fees to the Fire Marshal’s Office for a new plan review subject to current requirements.

If no inspection is conducted within 180 days, but no longer than one year of the permit issuance, the permit may be reactivated.

Requests for Reactivation shall be made in writing by the Permittee or property owner to the attention of the Assistant Fire Marshal.

Payment of half of the current fees is required prior to Reactivation.

Reactivated permits shall be valid for 180 days.

If no inspection is conducted for a period exceeding one year from the date of permit issuance or last inspection, the permit shall automatically expire, and Reactivation or Extension is not permitted. If the permittee wishes to continue with the project, it shall be resubmitted to the Fire Marshal's Office for a new plan review with payment of full fees.

If the permit has expired but the period of inactivity does not exceed one year, the Permittee shall be informed that he/she may request, in writing, reactivation of their permit. If reactivation is approved, payment of half the current fee schedule's permit fee must to be paid prior to scheduling any inspections.

If the permit has expired and the period of inactivity has exceeded one year, the Permittee shall be informed that a new submittal, including full fees using the current fee schedule, must be made.

Upon completion of a valid inspection, your Permit Expiration Date will automatically be extended for 180 days from the date of inspection.

If you have any questions you may contact us at (408) 299-5768 for FPE Rob Cambell for larger projects and (408) 299-5763 for Deputy Mac Bala for residential projects.